The Smart Eddie Blog

Smart Eddie @ Groova Lounge

2011-03-14T00:08:00.000-07:00

Happy New Year!

2011-01-12T22:59:00.000-08:00

Hola peeps of the world! How ya'll doing? Hope that the festive season went down well. On our side it was surely fantastic. Spend some time with the fam and all. Just priceless.

Anywho, It's a new year and we've got some new plans in the pipeline. It's all in a development phase so watch this space.

So I just want to wish every one a great New Year. Hope everything works out for ya'll.

Much Love
Rob

New tees coming soon

2010-11-10T05:55:00.000-08:00

Hey peeps!

So it's summer here in the mother city and time for some new tees from our side. Here's just a little teaser for you guys. Watch out for our new tees.

Later!

Sliced Bread

2010-10-28T00:51:00.000-07:00

Hey Everyone.

SE is part of an exhibition at the Sliced Bread Gallery, Studio and Fashion Boutique in Port Elizabeth. If you stay in the area please go make a turn there and support our brand.

Thanks a mil

http://www.slicedbreadstudio.blogspot.com/

Smart Eddie in the Township!

2010-10-28T00:20:00.000-07:00

Yo! It's been like forever since we last posted something on our blog. We do apologize for that. Just been so crazy busy with life etc. But anyway, a couple of months ago SE was invited to a street party in the Nyanga Township in Cape Town. Was that party off the chain. We seriously had a great time. Thanks to Amanda and friends for inviting us. We should do it again. Check out some of the pics of the street party. Township style!

Welcome to our new peeps

2010-04-19T06:53:00.000-07:00

Hi Guys!

We've got some new members and partners on the SE crew and would like to introduce them to you.

Cheri Hugo (SE Partner), Mario Hugo and Tziona Carolus. All funky, hard working, dedicated and fun peeps. Definitely a force to be reckoned with so watch out for some new and exciting things from SE.

So on to the next topic. Go check out our facebook account. We're having a little comp on there. You could win a free tee.

Cheers

SE tees @ The Rainbow Experience

2010-04-07T03:04:00.000-07:00

Hey folks!

Now you can get SE tees @ The Rainbow Experience in town.

Mandela Rhodes Place, 23 Church Street, Cape Town.

Here's a link to their site: http://www.therainbowexperience.co.za/

SE @ Design Indaba 2010

2010-03-08T02:01:00.001-08:00

Wow! The Design Indaba went down well. We met a whole bunch of great people. Made a few good contacts and sold some tees. It was definitely the best way of show casing your work and getting exposure. So what's in store for 2010? Don't know yet, but stay tuned cause we definitely gonna rock this city!

Some Good news!

2010-03-08T01:41:00.000-08:00

Hello Again store in Cape Town now stock SE shirts. Whoop whoop!

http://helloagainshop.blogspot.com/

I Heart Africa

2010-02-23T04:54:00.000-08:00

Heita! This is just a sneak preview of our design coming out soon.

Get it first at the Design Indaba in Cape Town this weekend.

Smart Eddie at the DI

2010-01-27T06:31:00.000-08:00

Hey Guys

How y'all doing? It seems like forever since our last post! But for good reason I guess.

I've got some good news that I wanna share with you guys today. During this past week SE received an confirmation that we can show case our work and tees at the up and coming Design Indaba Expo on the 25, 26 & 27 of February. We are so stoked. This is a great opportunity for us. Yay!!!

Catch us there guys and will be looking forward to seeing you there.
Cheers

Coloured Blind

2009-12-10T01:58:00.000-08:00

Hey boys and girls!

We recently released our new design called Coloured Blind. Another section of SE which is all about the appreciation of the coloured slang here in Cape Town.

We only printed a limited few and were ecstatic with the response we got about this tee. Almost sold out in a week. Guess this means we have to print some more for you folks.

Really appreciate your support guys.
Rob

New Store

2009-10-30T02:10:00.000-07:00

Hey Guys!

I've got some great news for you. Now you can get Smart Eddie tees @ Rust Skate Shop in Claremont, Cape Town. Yay!!! Go get them now.

Cheers
Rob

Give.Music.Life

2009-10-15T01:58:00.000-07:00

So I've entered another one of my design for the Goodjoe.com comp. Would love it if you could give it some love. Thanks

http://www.goodjoe.com/Contests/Design.aspx?id=8e66eacd-5049-494d-b564-3b4db99d7b2e

Yoh! Yoh! Yoh!

2009-10-05T05:27:00.000-07:00

Wow!!! It's been a while. Everything around me has just been so hectic. Me moving to a bigger and better place, the death of my sibling, work, family. But now everything's back to normal and I got some free time on my hands.

Have been working on some very interesting stuff lately, actually, just trying to catch up on my illustrating skills. Just a bit rusted but I'll get there.

Anyway, did this design a while back. Guess I was bored at work. Tell me what you think.

Rob

And the winner of the free tee are....

2009-07-17T00:44:00.000-07:00

Hey folks! We've got some good news and some great news for you guys. We finally counted the votes and it was so close that we decided to have two winners instead of one.

So congratulations to Janine Green and Luvuyo Mtshamba. You'll receive your free tees shortly. To all those who have have voted for their fav tee, it will be available soon online for purchase. Will let you know.

And keep your eyes glued to this blog cause we will be having another comp like this soon.

Peace
Rob

Competition Time!

2009-06-19T06:16:00.001-07:00

Hey! Hey! Hey! Wanna win a free tee? I know you do.

We here at the Smart Eddie HQ can't decide which tee to print. Help us to make up our minds and stand a chance to win a free tee.

How it will work:
Vote for the design you like by mailing your name and the option you like to smarteddie.rob@gmail.com

The competition closes on the 15 July 2009 where we will then count all the votes and let you know what tee has won and who the lucky person is who will be getting one of Smart Eddie's tees.

So keep the votes coming

Goodjoe.com

2009-06-17T05:34:00.000-07:00

So....I've been entering a couple of our designs @ goodjoe.com and one of them, "One Random Act" won this week. I was so stoked when I received the good news. And on top of that I received this free tee from them (By Boots). It's called The Thrifty Pirate. An awesome design.

You can get "One Random Act" now at goodjoe.com. Just click on the tee icon on your right hand side.

Cheers

It's been a while!!!!

2009-05-07T02:03:00.000-07:00

Whew!!! Last month was a very relaxing month for us here in South Africa with all the public holidays and stuff. Most people went away while I just chilled at home with a couple of my buddies getting drunk and braaiing (BBQ) when ever we could. It's been a month and a half.

Anyway, we got a new tee out now. Inspired by my little brother (Leroy). Be Different, stand out from the crowd and follow your own instincts. A bit of hip hop / funk vibe to it. It comes in red and black. You can get it at Eddie Stitch in Access Park, Kenilworth, Cape Town for you fellow Cape Townians.

Later
Rob

I need war!!!

2009-04-15T05:55:00.000-07:00

World War 1 & 2
Vietnam
Desert Storm
War on Terror

Doesn't matter whether you're as peace-loving as the trees in the forest or as savage as the beasts which roam the open plains of Africa. War impacts ALL OF US.....

Now, I am by no means going to give you a 'history lesson' on any of the above-mentioned wars that have taken place – your high schools would have done that quite sufficiently already. And I'm sure many of you were not paying attention in History anyway because it simply seemed like 'forever ago' and something that will never affect you.

True, while many of us were spared the atrocities of passed wars, many of us, in some way or another are affected by it today! What on earth could I possibly mean by that? Well, if one country thinks that it can 'flex it's muscles' and take 'stuff' away from another country and pretty much DOES, then how long before almost every other country on this planet starts to do the same????? You getting the picture now? If not, marinade on this. EVERY TIME a country like U.S.A goes to war, they need to get MONEY or should I say BORROW money from their central bank a.k.a The Federal Reserve so that they can purchase the latest weaponry and machinery, to wreck havoc and destruction on the next nation, from whom they more or less want resources example – Iraq and their Oil reserve.

Problem is, back home, the average man in the street, who is trying to work hard and save up enough money to someday send his kids off to college, gets the 'middle finger' and the boot because his company is being taxed more, to help pay off the national debt that the American government compounded in the first place, by going to war with another country – which was completely unnecessary to begin with!

So you see what I mean? WAR AFFECTS ALL OF US!!!!! And even if you admitted that you now see how war affects you, in your almost 'safe little bubble', you're probably thinking right now that there is NOTHING you can do to stop this anyways, right? WRONG......their is LOTS you can do! But I'm not a 'protestor' or 'I'm not a good public speaker to speak out against these evils'. Well, you don't have to be. The number 1 reason why governments around the world go to war, is CONSUMERISM!!!! Don't know what I mean? Think of this. Children as young as 4, living in Somalia, are slaves to the militant regime running the country. These children and up until adults, are used in mines, to dig for precious metals which can be sold to foreign countries.

Those 'precious metals' can be used for anything from manufacturing the latest Audi Coupe or Playstation 3 Consoles. Can you imagine what would happen, if EVERY SINGLE PERSON ON THE PLANET, decided to NOT SUPPORT the exploitation of young Africans by NOT PURCHASING ANYTHING from an African country, that is making use of slave labour???? The result would be the SAME that happened in SA during Apartheid. Sanctions hit us and P.W BOTHA was FORCED to resign from office, giving in to the International Community's demands of aboloshing Apartheid. The role that the 'average man' in the street played by NOT supporting South African brands was so overwhelming, that even the 'seemingly all powerful' oppressive regime of SA had to submit to THEIR WILL – THE WILL AND PLIGHT OF THE COMMON, DECENT MAN!

So as I said before, this is not a history lesson, not by any means. But next time you read about how wars are raving other countries, ask yourself 'Am I one of the consumers supporting this war through my purchasing behaviour and if I am, what can do to CHANGE that????????'

Salute or Saluut?

2009-04-08T00:44:00.000-07:00

Salute: Military. to pay respect to or honor by some formal act, as by raising the right hand to the side of the headgear, presenting arms, firing cannon, dipping colors, etc.

Saluut: Colloquial Cape Coloured phrase. Similar to 'saluting' someone but is generally used to give somebody the 'o.k' or 'go ahead'. Example. Eddie told Rob that he can buy 17" Ewing mags for R300 each. Rob said 'Saluut! I'll give you the money tomorrow.'

Now when somebody says 'Saluut', it is usually accompanied with a 'hand gesture' of some type. Typically showing the 'thumbs up' sign, on BOTH hands. Other gestures/actions could be for example Rob saying 'Saluut' to Eddie and then shaking Eddie's hand, doing the typical 'thumb snapping/clicking' handshake which has become a landmark type on in SA, originating on the Cape Flats.

Another example of using the term 'Saluut' is when somebody asks you 'How are you doing today?', to which you reply 'Naai, ek is met a Saluut my bra!!!' meaning 'No, I'm all good thanks'. The above is a picture which demonstrates the difference between 'Saluting' and 'Saluuting'. As you can see, the white guys are 'SALUTING' and the coloured guy is 'Saluuting'. See the trademark '2 thumbs up' hand gesture? Also note that the coloured guy is a member of a prison gang, hence he indicates that by using both his index fingers. That is typical of a Cape Coloured showing that he is 'good' or that he is giving the 'go ahead'. In this case, this guy is simply telling the cameraman and audience that he is 'real good' or 'happy' AND that he is 'affiliated'.

So next time you're walking on the streets of Prague, Czech Republic or Mitchell's Plain, South Africa, be certain of which 'hand gestures' you use to greet somebody or show them that you're 'o.k'.

Till next time

SALUUUUTT

The Smart Eddie Crew

Images are from Ross Kemp on Gangs series and bp2.blogger.com

Freedom to ride

2009-03-20T06:28:00.000-07:00

A while back I bought myself a scooter. I wanted to try something different and in a way try to do my part in saving the planet by downsizing. I went to a couple of scooter stores in and around Cape Town to find the perfect scooter that would fit my specific needs. After a month or so I found a nice little 150CC scooter. It's called a STAR scooter and I bought it at a place called Motorcycle World.

WOW, the first time I rode it, it felt like driving on a beautiful landscape with the wind slightly blowing in your face. Like a horse running free, just living it up. It was such an amazing experience, that I was hooked for life. The adrenaline pumping when you squeeze in between cars, don't have to sit in traffic jams. I just love it man.

So this design is dedicated to all you peeps who love riding bikes/scooters.

Vote for it on Springleap[dot]com
http://www.springleap.com/designs/view/freedom-to-ride

Keep well, ride save and watch out for hooligans driving bad on the road.

Peace out
Rob

Kusi

2009-03-18T02:23:00.000-07:00

So it's been a while since our last post. Things have just been chaotic on our side. Deadlines at work and trying to keep up with our own brand and stuff. But ja, that's life for you.

Here's just a little something that I've been working on lately. I just thought that I would try out a different style for a change. I was inspired by an Mellow-wood brandy ad on TV. It just got stucked in my head and I thought that I would do a design around that.

It a four color job on either a light blue, grey or a yellow color tee.

Hope you like.

Mxit/Fxit?

2009-03-05T23:04:00.000-08:00

Thumb warriors? Yeah, used to laugh when I heard people using those types of terms a few years ago, to describe a bunch of ppl who had very adept 'thumbs' when it came to utilising cellphone handsets.

But with the advent of chat applications such as mxit to name just one of MANY, it's quite easy to understand why......I mean, you've got kids as 'old' as 6 who can practically take a bath while sending an sms and NEVER drop their cellphones in the water. Here I have trouble just taking a 'leak' in the men's restroom while my cell is attached to my ear. I guess times change but not as fast as the makes and models of modern technology. You can use your cellphone for just about ANYTHING these days, INCLUDING GPS!!! i.e Global Positioning Satellite to help you find your way in this world......WOW. Makes me think that cellphones can be REAL educational lil' tools too hey?

Now, if a thesaurus/dictionary were to be included with a cellphone (which I'm sure they are in many), think about how our language usuage would move forward, correctly of course, in LEAPS AND BOUNDS.....sorry to say this but yeah, there's a point to this lil' here blog and it goes along the lines of how HIGH SCHOOL KIDS IN GRADE 12 LAST YEAR (2008) COMPLETED A FULL ENGLISH COMPREHENSION PAPER WHILST WRITING IN MXT LANGUAGE!!!! Yes folks, that is correct!

They actually wrote essays using words such as 'g2g' = got to go, l2m = listening to music, lib = lying in bed and so on and so forth. NOW........my question to you is, HOW MUCH TIME MUST YOU SPEND ON MXIT, TO BE THAT FLUENT IN MXIT SPEAK, THAT YOU CAN WRITE AN ENTIRE ENGLISH HG PAPER, WITHOUT NOTICING THAT YOU HAVE WRITTEN IT IN MXIT SPEAK?!?!?!!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!!?!?!?!?!?!?!?

I can hear the rantings and ravings of both parents on teachers, on BOTH sides of the fence, where the one blames the other - teachers saying that parents don't regulate their kids' activities and allow them to do just 'any old thing' they wanna when they get home from school. Parents saying that they teachers don't deserve the salaries they are paid since they can't even teach this kids how to use a pen and pencil properly!!!!

Now, I urge you to think of this question - WHAT THE HELL HAS HAPPENED TO KIDS JUST BEING PLAIN DUMB?????? So what, you don't get DUMB KIDS no more???? Or is it just a sense/feeling of 'oversensitivity' on the part of the parents who CANNOT or WILL NOT see things for what they are? i.e STOP DUMBING DOWN YOUR KIDS BY LETTING THEM ENTERTAIN THEMSELVES WITH MIND-NUMBING TOOLS!!!!

In one EXTREME case, one guy when responding to a joke made VERBALLY, said OUT LOUD 'LOL' - Somebody beat him to death will his cellphone why don't you?????

And before ANYONE tries to regulate this type of STUPIDITY to one 'race/class', remember, that kids ALL OVER THE NATION of ALL CREEDS AND COLOURS have fallen 'victim' to this onslaught of stupifying behaviour!

I feel a great swell of pity for those parents who still believe their kids are 'lil angels' who are the bestest and brightest in the classroom......

p.s Oh, I forgot, don't you find people in their FIFTIES on mxit too???????? 'LOL.'

Food for thought my fellow 'thumb-warrior compadres'

Doodle Woodle

2009-03-03T02:29:00.000-08:00

So lately I've been doodling a lot and just thought that I would try and paint some of my doodles on canvas. This is my first doodled canvas. I'm not used to painting on canvas but I am pleased with the end result.

8 x 8". Acrylic on canvas

Dala Flet

2009-02-16T08:21:00.001-08:00

Every so now and then, you stroll through the beautiful and scenic streets and by-ways of the Cape Flats (stroll??? You mean RUN???) and pick up on some really cool, unique and totally ‘inspiring’ slang! Yes folks, Cape Coloured slang CAN be a BEAUTIFUL, DESCRIPTIVE and LYRICALLY SHARP tool to use, when it comes to utilising ‘grammar’ to illustrate something :)

Don’t know what I’m talking about??? Well, by now you have now doubt ogled the pic of a ‘brown brotha’ toting 2 guns, extra large ‘beanie’ on his head and some dental ‘augmentation’ i.e missing his 4 front teeth. Now, if this pic alone is not enough to give an idea of the TYPE of language this guy spews forth from this MOUF, then allow me to break it down for you - DALA FLET that is....

‘Dala Flet’ Literal meaning: To do something with action and vigour in creating/making something ‘flat’ or ‘evenly surfaced’.Coloured meaning: To take STRONG AND PERSUASIVE ACTION against someone/people, usually by means of PHYSICAL FORCE in an attempt to bring your point/view/belief across. Example ‘Majiet (Muslim’s person’s nickname) vat my AL LANKAL AL (very long time) virre gat (really dumb fool) en daai vark gan vannand sien hoe maak ek saam met hom. Ek DALA FLET vannand my broe, ek maakie jokes sie (not playing around)!!!!

Now, to those of you who KNOW what I’m talking about, I’m sure you will agree that this type of language can be VERY entertaining - to those ‘unbeknownst’ to it, well, for a lil’ bit more info, just pop into your local smokkie (illegal bottle store in the form of a house) ANYWHERE in Mitchell’s Plain. Go to the ‘counter’, order your ‘poison’ and then start an argument with the guy/girl serving you, saying that the price for their liquor is FAR TOO HIGH and that they are trying to ‘economically rape’ you!!!

Watch wath happens from there!!!!!! :)

To everyone else, watch this space for some more fun and entertaining blogs from the Smart Eddie crew!!!

Till then, be safe and love your neighbour - you know what I mean.

Smart Eddie Crew!!!

Eddie Stitch - Cape Town

2009-02-10T04:52:00.000-08:00

So I just thought that I would post some of our tees currently being sold in a store called Eddie Stitch. They are situated in Access Park, Kenilworth, Cape Town, South Africa. If you like what you see and you stay in Cape Town, you can pop in by them and get these uber cool Smart.Eddie tees for an awesome price. Other wise you can drop me a line and I'll try to hook you up with one of our tees.

Ciao

I give a damn

2009-02-06T05:28:00.000-08:00

A while back I watched a little animation movie (by airside) about climate change and what we could do to make a difference. I decided then and there that I would do a design about our environment. This is what I came up with.

I used the classic Rosie icon from world war 2 and tried to incorporate her into this design and the fight against global warming.

Ja ja, I know she stood for woman rights and all, but from my perspective she was also a symbol of hope for better things and that is what we need right now in this world.

So to end things off, please can we just stop the hating and start loving and help your fellow mankind. Together we can make a difference.

You can vote for this design on Springleap.com

Peace out

Welcome to Smart.Eddie

2009-02-05T01:07:00.000-08:00

Errrmmmm *cough* *cough*. So this is my first entry onto this blog. Where do I start? How do I begin?

Well....errrmmmm....here goes nothing. My name is Robert Smart and I started this brand last year with a good friend of mine, Edwin Levendal. I'm currently busy with our website and will be using this blog to showcase some of our work. What we basically do is we design and sell t-shirts for now. We are looking at expanding as soon as we find our feet.

So to go on, another good friend of mine, Oscar Lyons will be keeping you updated with whats going on at the Smart.Eddie Headquarters and will be writing about some other stuff as well. He was supposed to write this first entry but his father past away yesterday. Oz, just know that we're here for you my brother from another mother. I know that there's nothing painful than losing a loved one.

Ja,so keep your eyes glued to this blog and I will try and post some of my latest designs as soon as it's available. I would appreciate it if you guys can give me feedback on some of it.

Thanks and much respekt
Rob aka souf

Ps. Vote for my latest design on springleap.com

http://www.springleap.com/designs/view/i-give-a-damn